Bow sight and method of sighting same



Nov. 1, 1966 M.J. HARRIGAN 3,281,940

BOW SIGHT AND METHOD OF SIGHTING SAME Filed Aug. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR l MATTHEW J1 609-99 64 BY I ATTORNEY Nov. 1, 1966 HARRlGAN 3,281,940

BOW SIGHT AND METHOD OF SIGHTING SAME Filed Aug. 11, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F IG. 6 1/6 25 /5' 36 m1 mm. 27 /2 i K J p 4(!(*' 'HH H] k 34 k )l g. m J K i A I 30 1|||Y| I II I 36 A b r 24 INVENTOR MATTHEW J. AMAAPIGAV BY M 1 PM ATTORNEYS 3,281,940 BOW SIGHT AND METl-IQD III EJGHTING SAME Matthew J. Harrigan, 1369 Evergreen Ave, Schenectady, N.Y. Filed Aug. 11, I964, Ser. No. 388,835 15 Claims. (Ci. 3346) This invention relates to bow sights and the method of sighting the same and more particularly to a bow sight having a reflecting surface as a means to position'the bow string by reflection so that front and rear sight alignment is obtained for sighting an arrow with a target.

Present day bow sights and methods for aiming an arrow with a bow have many disadvantages and difficulties are frequently encountered when aligning an arrow with a target. Many sighting devices presently used are formed with a plastic piece attached to the bow string so that the plastic piece will be aligned with the archers eye when the bow string is at full draw. The archer will align the arrow with the target by sighting through a hole in the plastic piece and a sighting means on the bow. One of the difiiculties encountered by the use of this method for maintaining alignment of the bow string in a vertical position with the target and sighting through a hole in the plastic piece to align the hole with the sighting means is that the vision of the archer tends to blur because the plastic piece is too close to the eye. A further difliculty encountered with this type of sighting device is the problem of torque encountered when the bow is at full draw. The term torque when used in archery refers to the rotation of the bow around its vertical axis which causes the plane of the arrow with respect to the alignment of the shaft of the arrow to the target to be at an angle thereto. The above mentioned method cannot correct this difiiculty when sighting an arrow because the rear sight, that is the plastic piece on the bow string, is not reflected in the sighting means on the bow. Bow sights of this type can not be adjusted to reflect a change in the anchor point when the bow is at full draw.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide a bow sight in which the difficulties heretofore encountered when using standard bow sights for aligning an arrow with a target are overcome.

It is another object of my invention to provide a sighting means having a reflecting surface which is attached to the bow in which front and rear sighting is accomplished without any blurring of vision being encountered by the archer and which does not hinder the movement of the bowstring when at full draw or releasing the arrow accurately on target, and which enables the archer to maintain substantially perfect body form and eliminates torque while holding the bow so that the exact location of the string with respect to the sighting means is seen clearly and not blurred, and the plane of the arrow is aligned with the target.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a bow sight which is a small, relatively compact unit, light in weight and which may be attached to substantially all archery horizontal and vertical slide bar holders for bows as a separate unit or device.

My invention contemplates providing a sighting device nited States Patent ice bodiment I provide a forward sight which intersects the sighting window so that the target may be sighted through the sighting window in alignment with the forward sight. The reflection of the bow string in the reflecting surface then serves as the rear sight.

In the accompanying drawings, FIG. 1 is a sectional plan view through the central zone of the bow having my improved bow sight attached thereto and showing the position of the arrow when the bow is at full draw;

FIG .2 is a side elevational view of the assembly shown in FIG. 1;

I61. 3 is a front elevational view of my bow sight illustrating one form thereof mounted to a vertical slide bar;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3 showing the mounting of the sight pin and the reflecting means;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view illustrating another form of bow sight and mounting therefor and showing the reflection of the bow string with respect to the light conducting means and target;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view in elevation taken on the line 6-6 of FIG. 5 showing the mounting of the sight pin and the reflecting means;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view in elevation taken on the line 77 of FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a top view of FIG. 5.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one form of archery bow B having a bow string S connected between opposite end portions thereof in the usual manner. The bow is shown at full draw in FIGS. 1 and 2 with the nock of the arrow engaged with the bow string and with the shaft extending forwardly across one side of the central zone of the bow. Attached to the central zone of the how so as to project to the side of the bow which is engaged by the shaft of the arrow, is my improved bow sight indicated generally by the numeral 10. The bow sight is preferably mounted on the how so that it may be adjusted both vertically and horizontally. Thus, I have shown one form of vertical slide bar V. The illustrated slide bar consists of a bar 41 fixed to the central zone of the how so as to face towards the bow string and having graduation marks thereon indicating distances. A slide 42 having channel arms on the back face thereof frictionally engages the bar so that it may be vertically adjusted to the proper position indicating the distance of the target. When adjusted it may be frictionally held in position as shown or it may be provided with a suitable set screw to maintain it in adjusted position.

In the form of sighting device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, I have provided an assembly consisting of a tubular housing or mounting member I which may be made of metal, plastic or other suitable material. One face of the housing is recessed as shown at 2 and a mirror 32 having a reflecting surface facing outwardly therefrom is disposed in the recess and suitably held in place as by a retaining ring as shown or by some other suitable means such as an epoxy resin. The reflecting surface covers the major portion of the mirror as shown in FIG. 3. A sighting window 40 is provided through the central portion of the mirror so that the target can be sighted therethrough. I also prefer to provide the mirror with cross hairs in the form of horizontal and vertical axes lines 45 and 46 which intersect the sighting window. These axes lines may be provided by omitting the reflective coating on the back of the mirror along these axes or by etching the surface or applying suitable marking material. The mirror may be made of glass or plastic material having good optical properties having a mirror surface coating such as aluminum, silver, copper and bronze applied to the back surface thereof. The mirror may also be formed of a polished metal surface such as stainless steel or aluminum with a cutout portion serving as the sighting Window.

In using the sighting device the target may be centered in the sighting window using the axes lines as a guide. To help in centering the target I prefer to employ a forward sight such as shown at 18 in the form of an elongated stem or rod terminating in a head 22 which should be centered in alignment with the sighting window. The

forward sight may be suitably mounted as for instance, by cementing it in a threaded, knurled adapter 3 inserted in the threaded opening 4 in one side of the tubular housing. The forward sight is preferably made of a light conducting material such as glass, methyl methacrylate, resin, polystyrene or other plastic material having good optical properties. The outer end of the device is preferably provided with an enlarged light collecting head portion 19 disposed on the outer surface of the tubular housing. Thus, sunlight impinging on the head 19 is collected and transmitted through the stem to the head portion 22. This facilitates sighting the device and aligning the bead with the target. To accentuate the lighting effect, the bead may be coated with a fluorescent material.

The forward sight may be mounted on any portion of the periphery of the tubular housing and projected radially inwardly so that the bead 22 is aligned with the center of the sighting window. However, I prefer to mount it in alignment with either the horizontal or vertical axes line and preferably with the light collecting head 19 pointing outwardly away from the bow as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or pointing upwardly as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8 so that maximum sunlight will impinge thereon.

The sighting assembly as heretofore described is provided with suitable means for mounting it on the central zone of the bow preferably for both horizontal and vertical adjustment. The vertical slide bar V heretofore described provides for vertical adjustment. The device for mounting the assembly on the slide 42 is shown generally at 5 in FIGS. 3 and 4. It consists of a threaded stud 9 in threaded engagement with an aperture extending through slide 42 and having a ball type head 8 engaged in a socket recess formed in the side of the tubular housing 1 opposite the mounting for the forward sight 18. The ball and socket assembly is held in place by threaded adapter 6 assembled around the threaded stud 9 in engagement with the ball portion 8 and in threaded engagement with the opening 7 leading into the ball socket. If adapter 6 is loosened, the sighting assembly may be angularly' adjusted. When adjusted, the adapter is tightened to hold it firmly in place. The entire assembly may be horizontally adjusted-by turning the threaded stud 9 relative to the slide 42 until the sighting device is horizontally shifted. It may then be held in place by tightening set screw 47.

In FIGS. 5 to 8 I have shown a modified form of sighting device 10 having a tubular housing or mounting device 12. In this form of device, the forward sight 19 is shown as mounted at the top of the housing and extending radially downwardly. In addition, the mirror 32 is supported in a different fashion. Thus, it is mounted in a separate casing shown generally at 24 consisting of a rim portion 28 which encases and supports the mirror and a rearwardly projecting tubular extension 26 disposed in the housing 12 and terminating in an outwardly flared, angularly disposed reflecting portion 29. The surface 29 is arranged so as to reflect additional light on the sighting bead 22 as indicated by the arrows in FIG, 6. Mirror 32 is preferably disposed at an angle to the vertical plane as shown most clearly in FIG. 6. This angle is preferably midway between the vertical plane and the angle of the upper flight of the bowstring when at full draw as shown in FIG. 2 so that the angle of repose of the reflection of the upper portion of the bow string will direct the image to the eye of the archer as indicated by the dotted lines and arrows in FIG. 2. The mirror is suitably held in place in the casing as by an epoxy resin and the angular disposition may be provided by means of a shim or spacer as shown at 33. The casing 24 is held in place in housing 12 by means of a retaining screw 34 and a set screw 36 in engagement with threaded openings 35 and 37 in diametrically opposite sides of the housing. The mirror assembly may be rotatably adjusted by loosening the set screw 36 and then rotating the casing 24. When adjusted to the proper position with the axes and 46 disposed respectively in horizontal and vertical planes, the set-screw 36 is then tightened to maintain it in adjusted position.

The sighting device 10 may be attached to the bow in the same manner as the sighting device 10 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 or by any other suitable means preferably providing for both horizontal and vertical adjustment. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, I have provided the housing with circumferential grooves 14 and 15 near the forward end thereof and one of the grooves may be encircled with a bracket 17 made of metal wire or the like, having horizontal extensions at its opposite ends which engage with slide 42' mounted for vertical slide adjustment on the vertical bar 41. The bracket arms extend to transverse apertures formed in the slide 42' and one of them may be engaged by a set screw 47 for retaining the assembly in horizontally adjusted position. The slide 42' has frictional engagement with the bar 41 so that it will be releasably retained in vertically adjusted position.

In using either form of sighting device, it is mounted on the central zone of the how so as to project laterally therefrom and with the reflecting surface facing toward the bowstring. The slide is then adjusted vertically for the proper target distance, the mirror is adjusted angularly so that the axes 45 and 46 are in proper horizontal and vertical alignment and the sight is adjusted horizontally so that the vertical axis 46 is in alignment with the bow string.

In sighting with the improved bow 'sight the mock of the arrow is engaged with the bow string in the usual manner and drawn to full draw with the shaft of the arrow extending past the central zone of the bow beneath the sight as shown in FIG. 2. The archer sights through the sighting window aligning the target with the forward sight bead as shown in FIG. 5 and thereafter aligning he reflection of the bow string S with the vertical axis 46 so that itintersects the sighting window, the forward sight bead and target, In this manner the reflection of the bow string serves as the rear sight.

FIG. 5 illustrates an objectionable condition in which there is torque. In other words there has been relative rotation of the bow with respect to the bow string with the result that the reflection of the bow string S is offset to one side of the vertical axis line 46. When this condition exists the arrow is at an angle to the target with the result that if the arrow is then released it will pass to one side of the target. In correcting this condition, the relative rotation between the bow and bow string must be relieved and the entire assembly of bow and bow string should be rotated around the vertical axis of the assembly without relative torque to align the reflection of the bow string with the sighting window, forward sight bead and target.

A further adjustment may be made in the sighting device for windage. series of graduations may be provided on the edge of the housing and a V indicator provided on the adjacent edge of the casing. By relative rotation of the casing 24, allowance can be made for the wind. In the form of device shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 windage allowance can be obtained by canting the sighting device around the ball and socket connection.

It will thus be seen that I have provided an improved sighting device for use with archery bows which incorporates front and rear sight aligning means and in which Thus, as shown at 50 in FIG. 8, a

the rear sight aligning means is not attached to the bow string itself thereby overcoming blurred vision of the archer heretofore encountered. Further, the relative position of the bow string with respect to the reflecting surface and bead is clearly visible to the archer and when the arrow is at full draw the proper alignment of the arrow with the target is assured. Also, by providing means for rear sight alignment by means of a reflecting surface, objectionable torque presented when an archer has a bow at full draw is overcome.

Obviously, choice of material forconstructing a bow sight of the type described may vary widely and modification of the illustrated embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow having a bowstring connected between opposite end portions thereof comprising: an assembly providing a reflecting surface having a sighting window immediately adjacent thereto and means for attaching said assembly at one side of the central zone of an archery bow with the reflecting surface directed towards the bowstring so that the target may be sighted through the sighting window and the bow and bowstring may be rotated as a unit when held in a vertical plane to align the reflection of the bowstring in the reflecting surface to intersect the sighting Window.

2. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow having a bowstring connected between opposite end portions thereof comprising: a mirror assembly having a reflecting surface on one side thereof with a sighting window immediately adjacent thereto; means providing a forward sight intersecting said sighting window; and means for attaching said mirror assembly on one side of the central zone of an archery bow with the mirror assembly directed towards the bowstring so that the target may be sighted through the sighting window in alignment with the forward sight and so that the bow-string may be caused to be reflected in the reflecting surface so as to intersect the sighting window and the forward sight by rotating the bow and bowstring as a unit when it is in vertical position.

3. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow having a bowstring connected between opposite end portion thereof comprising: a mirror assembly having a reflecting surface on one side with a sighting window provided therein; means providing a forward sight intersecting said sighting window; and means for attaching said mirror assembly on one side of the central zone of an archery bow for both'vertical and horizontal adjustment and with the reflecting surface directed towards the bowstring so that the target may be sighted through the sighting window in alignment with the forward sight and so that the reflection of the bowstring in the reflecting surface may be used as the rear sight by rotating the bow and bowstring as a unit while in vertical position so that the reflection of the bowstring intersect the window and the forward sight.

4. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow as set forth in claim 3 in which the reflecting surface is disposed at an angle to the vertical plane slanting forwardly from its lower portion toward its upper portion.

5. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow having a bowstring connected between opposite end portions and in which the central portion of the bowstring may be engaged with the nock of an arrow and drawn rearwardly with respect to the bow to fully drawn position with the upper and lower segments of the bowstring being disposed at an angle to the vertical axis of the assembly, said sighting device comprising: a mirror assembly having a reflecting surface on one side with a sighting window provided therein, with said reflecting surface being disposed at an angle intermediate the vertical axis and the angle of the upper segment of the bowstring when in fully drawn position; means providing a forward sight positioned forwardly of said reflecting surface and intersecting said sighting window; and means for attaching said mirror assembly on one side of the central zone of an archery bow with the mirror assembly directed towards the bowstring so that the reflection of the bowstring serves as a rear sight by rotating the bow and bowstring as a unit around its axis when held in a vertical plane to align the reflection of the bowstring in the reflection surface to intersect the sighting window and the forward sight.

6. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow as set forth in claim 5 in which the forward sighting device is made of a light conducting material and has a light collecting head portion and a stem portion connected between the sighting device and the head portion.

7. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow having a bowstring connected between opposite end portions thereof comprising: an assembly providing a reflecting surface having a sighting window immediately adjacent thereto; means providing a forward sight intersecting said sighting window and having a stern and light collecting head portion made of light conducting material integrally connected thereto; and attaching means for attaching said assembly on one side of the central Zone of an archery bow with the reflecting surface directing towards the bowstring so that the target may be sighted through the sighting window in alignment with the forward sight and so that the reflection of the bowstring in the reflecting surface may serve as a rear sight by aligning the reflection of the bowstring so as to intersect the sighting window and forward sight by rotating the bow and bowstring as a unit around its axis when disposed in vertical position.

8. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow as set forth in claim 7 in which the forward sight includes a bead-like portion having a fluorescent coating disposed in alignment with the central portion of the sighting window.

9. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow having a bowstring connected between opposite end portions thereof comprising: a tubular mounting member; a mirror assembly having a reflecting surface on one side thereof mounted in said tubular mounting member and having a sighting wind-ow provided therein; means providing a forward sight mounted in said tubular mounting member forward of said reflecting surface and having a bead portion in alignment with the central portion of said sighting window, and a light collecting head portion positioned on the outer surface of said tubular mounting member and connected to the head portion by a light conducting stem portion; and means for attaching said tubular mounting member on one side of the central zone of an archery bow with the reflecting surface facing towards the bowstring so that the target may be sighted through the sighting window in alignment with the forward sight and so that the reflection of the bowstring in the reflecting surface may serve as the rear sight by aligning the reflection of the bowstring so that it intersects the sighting window and the forward sight by rotating the bow and bowstring as a unit around its axis when disposed in vertical position.

10. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow as set forth in claim 9 in which the reflecting surface is disposed at an angle to the vertical plane, slanting forwardly from its lower edge towards its upper edge.

11. A sighting device as set forth in claim 9 in which the means for attaching said tubular mounting member on the side of the central zone of an archery bow provides for both horizontal and vertical adjustment.

12. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow as set forth in claim 9 which is provided with an angularly disposed, forwardly facing reflecting surface for reflecting light on the bead of the forward sight.

13. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow having a bowstring connected between opposite end 1 portions thereof and in which the central zone of the bowstring may be engaged with an arrow and drawn rearwardly to flex the bow to fully drawn position with the upper and lower segments of the bowstring disposed at an angle to the vertical axis of the bow assembly, said sighting device comprising: a tubular mounting member; a mirror mounted in said tubular mounting member and having a rearwardly directed reflecting surface with a sighting window provided therein; a forward sight mo nted in said mounting member forwardly of the mirror and having a bead portion in alignment with the sighting window, a light collecting head disposed on the outer surface of said mounting member and a light transmitting stern connected between the head and bead; and means for attaching said tubular mounting member on one side of the central zone of an archery bow with the reflecting surface directed towards the bowstring so that the target may be sighted through the sighting window in alignment with the bead of the forward sight and so that the reflection of the bowstring may serve as the rear sight by aligning the reflection of the bowstring so that it intersects the sighting window and bead of the forward sight by rotating the bow and bowstring as a unit about its axis when in vertical position.

14. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow :as set forth in claim 13 in which the mirror and reflecting surface are disposed at an angle to the' vertical plane intermediate the angle of the vertical plane and of the upper segment of the bowstring when in fully drawn position.

15. A sighting device for attachment to an archery bow as set forth in claim 13 in which the reflecting surface is provided with vertical and horizontal lines whose axes intersect at the central portion of the sighting window and in alignment with the bead of the forward sighting device.

No references cited.

LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner. 

1. A SIGHTING DEVICE FOR ATTACHMENT TO AN ARCHERY BOW HAVING A BOWSTRING CONNECTED BETWEEN OPPOSITE END PORTIONS THEREOF COMPRISING: AN ASSEMBLY PROVIDING A REFLECTING SURFACE HAVING A SIGHTING WINDON IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT THERETO AND MEANS FOR ATTACHING SAID ASSEMBLY AT ONE SIDE OF THE CENTRAL ZONE OF AN ARCHERY BOW WITH THE REFLECTING SURFACE DIRECTED TOWARDS THE BOWSTRING SO THAT THE TARGET MAY BY SIGHTED THROUGH THE SIGHTING WINDOW AND THE BOW AND BOWSTRING MAY BE ROTATED AS A UNIT WHEN HELD IN A VERTICAL PLANE TO ALIGN THE REFLECTION OF THE BOWSTRING IN THE REFLECTING SURFACE TO INTERSECT THE SIGHTING WINDOW. 